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Mega Millions up to $400M, 2nd-biggest jackpot ever

BIG MONEY: The Mega Millions jackpot is nearing a record payout. Photo: Reuters

(Reuters) – The Mega Millions jackpot grew to an estimated $400 million for the next draw on Friday after no one won the top prize of $344 million on Tuesday evening, lottery organizers said.

The next draw is slated for Friday, Dec. 13 – considered an unlucky date by some – at 11 p.m. Eastern.

If the winner chose to take a cash prize instead of an annuity, it would amount to $216 million, according to the Mega Millions website, megamillions.com.

Tuesday’s top prize had a cash payout option of $184 million, according to the lottery, which is played in a majority of U.S. states. The winning numbers from that drawing were: 5, 12, 22, 41, 65 and 13, Mega Millions said.

No one has won the jackpot in more than two months, pushing the purse steadily higher, although it remains well below the record-setting $656 million won on March 30, 2012.

The next largest prizes in the 17-year history of Mega Millions were worth $390 million and $380 million.